Game-board.



F. G. BEMPE.

GAME BOARD.

APPLICATION rum) MAY 17, 1909.

942, 748. r Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

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GOMAW FRANK G. REMPE, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

GAME-BOARD.

Application filed May 17, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Gr. REMPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Boards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved game board for indoor amusement, and has for its object to provide a suitable game board on which is printed or otherwise designed the representation of a baseball diamond and field, in combination with the accessories by means of which the game is to be played.

Another object is to provide a game board upon which the various playing positions are suitably connected by guide lines or paths to indicate the direction in which the playing pieces are to be moved, the positions on the diamond being likewise connected by guide paths with the various field positions, to indicate the line of movement of the ball.

Another object is to provide an indicator having suitable designating characters thereon of the various positions of the playing field, and also the numerals indicating the number of spaces the playing pieces are to be moved.

A further object is to provide a game board of this character which will afford a great amount of amusement, and at the same time may be very readily understood by the younger players, it being unnecessary to have any knowledge whatsoever of the game of baseball.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board showing the various field positions indicated thereon and connected by paths for the movement of the playing pieces, Fig. 2 is a similar view of the indicator, Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. i is a detail view of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Serial No. 496,414.

one of the pieces representing the players, Fig. 5 is a similar view of the piece which represents the ball.

Referring to the drawings, A illustrates the top of my improved game board, the same being provided with a representation of a baseball field, printed or otherwise de signed thereon. This field comprises the positions known as catcher, home plate, first base, second base and third base, which represents what is known as the diamond. In the center of this diamond is located the pitchers boX. The diamond positions are connected by parallel lines B, which indicate the paths upon which the players are to run, and extend beyond the home plate to provide a suitable foul line. Between the second and third bases the position of short stop is also indicated and is connected with the first base and home plate by means of the parallel lines 0 the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The field positions are right field, left field, and center field, which are also indicated at the proper relative distances from the various diamond positions. Each of the field positions is also connected with the first base and the home plate by the parallel lines D. The first and third bases are likewise connected by parallel lines B.

The space between the lines which connect the diamond positions, and the space between the lines which connect the field positions with the diamond positions are differently colored or provided with other distinguishing characteristics. These spaces are also divided by transverse lines into a plurality of blocks or spaces over which the playing pieces are moved in accordance with the number spun upon the indicator.

The playing piece representing the ball which is shown in Fig. 5 is adapted to be moved upon the paths connecting the field positions with the various diamond positions, at the same time that the piece representing the player is moved along the base paths.

In Fig. 2, I have shown an indicator designed to be used in connection with my improved game board, and it comprises a block or base E, having pivoted at'its center the arrows F which may be freely rotated independently of each other. Upon the top of the base are printed two concentric circles from the center of which extend a plurality of radial lines dividing the same into eight equal spaces. Between the concentric circles and in each of the spaces, one of the field positions is indicated, viz., right field, shortstop, left field, left field fly, center field fly, center field grounder, first base, and foul. Numbers 1 to 8 are also printed in the spaces provided by the radial lines.

The pieces representing the players are shown in Fig. 4, 18 of them being provided, 9 men representing a team. The two sets of 9 pieces will be dilferently colored, so as to avoid confusion in the playing of the game.

Fig. 5 represents the piece which is to be used as the ball, and moves on the paths between the home plate and the various field positions.

Having thus fully described the game board and the various accessories for playing the same, I will now describe the manner in which my improved game is to be played.

The game is played by two persons, each representing the captain of an imaginary baseball team. After dividing the pieces representing the players, each person tak ing all the pieces of one color, just nine in number, the indicator is spun. The person spinning the highest number is the first to go to bat, or become what is known as the inside team the other party placing his players on the various diamond and field positions. The piece representing the ball is placed upon the home plate. The party representing the outside team always spins first for the pitched when throwing the ball, or when the ball is being moved upon the various paths. The person representing the inside team now spins the arrow of the indicator for the batter. If the number spun by the pitcher is higher than that spun by the batter, then a strike is registered. If the batters spin, however, is the highest, he is credited with a ball. In the event of the pitcher and batter spinning the same number upon the indicator, the batter is credited with a hit. The batter now moves along the first base line as many paces as the number spun by the party representing the inside team. The position indicator is now spun by the outside team to determine whether the ball is to be a foul or was hit to the right field, left field or center field or is to be intercepted by any of the players stationed upon the diamond. F or the purpose of illustrating the manner of playing the game, we will say that the ball was hit to center field and was what is known as grounder. The piece representing the ball is now moved upon the path D toward center field the same number of spaces as the batter was moved toward first base.

It must be understood that when a hit is made by the batter, the batter and the ball are always moved the same number of spaces, which is the number that was spun when the hit was made. If the ball reaches the center field position upon the exact number which was spun upon the indicator the batter is out, but if the number spun for the ball is a higher number than would enable it to reach the center field position, it is turned into the path leading to first base. The two players representing each of the teams new spin the indicator if the batter reaches first base before the ball he is safe. Tie batter must, however, reach this position by an even number spun upon the indicator. Should the number be greater than the one desired, the batter mustpass around first base onto the path which connects with the second base. Should the ball when moving from the home plate reach the pitchers box upon the number spun by the indicator, it may be moved at right angles therefrom toward first base. Should it arrive there before the piece representing the batter, the latter is out. The batter is also declared out if the ball should arrive at the second base upon the number spun by the indicator. When the batter is stationed upon a base he is safe, and cannot be put out. but if another batter makes a hit and arrives upon first base, then the first batter who was stationed there must move toward the second base. He is then forced off, for two players cannot occupy one base at the same time. When the player is thus forced oif, the party for, the inside team will spin the indicator and the piece representing the batter will be moved along the path between the first and second bases as many of the spaces marked thereon as indicated by the point of the arrow. The person representing the outside team now spins the indicator and moves either the first or second baseman, in accordance -with his judgment, upon the path between the two bases. Should either of the basemen arrive in the same space with the runner, he is declared out. The baseman or the batter can move either way upon the running path when the batter has been forced to leave his base. The batter would also be out should he unfortunately land upon the block in which one of the basemen are stationed. the batter should succeed in reaching second base on the number spun, he is safe. When a batter is put out between the bases all the basemen are placed back upon their proper positions, and play is again started as when the game was first commenced. H the batter succeeds in evading all the basemen when moving between the bases and makes a complete circuit of the diamond, arriving at the home plate from which he started, one run is scored for the inside team.

The above description will apply in the same manner when the ball has been hit to any of the other positions named upon the indicator. It will be noted that each of the positions marked short-stop, right field, left alternately and field, and center field are connected by parallel lines with the first base and the home plate. Therefore should the ball arrive at any of these positions upon an even number spun upon the indicator, the batter will be out. Should a player be stationed at the third base at the time the out is made, the ball may be moved back to the home plate, only of course so many blocks at a time as is spun upon the indicator. Should the ball arrive at the home plate before the player who is stationed at third base, a double play will be recorded. The paths connecting home plate with first and third bases are extended beyond the catchers position, and are likewise blocked olf by transverse lines similar to the running paths. The blocks are preferably four in number and should the arrow point to the numeral 4 upon being spun, the batter will be out. The catcher can, however, stop in any of the intermediate blocks should a lower number be spun, and the outside team will continue to spin the indicator until he has spun the required number to place the catcher in the last block of the foul line or spins a higher number so that he would pass beyond the same. In this event the batter would still retain his position at the plate. The first two foul balls struck by the batter are, however, counted as strikes in any event. The pitcher must acquire the first strike by spinning a higher number than the batter. It will be noted that a left and center fiy are indicated. Thus it will be seen that every possible contingency is provided for.

The parallel lines connecting the bases, which represent the running paths, are divided by the transverse lines into eight spaces of equal length. There are also eight divisions of the paths D, which connect the home plate with the right and left field positions and in which the ball is adapted to be moved. There are ten of these spaces from the home plate to the center field position, and six spaces from the center field to first base. There are also six spaces from right field to first base, and four spaces from left field to second base. Should the ball be hit to the left field it is moved the number of spaces which the indicator may direct toward the second base. Should it arrive at second base on the number spun upon the indicator before the batter reaches first base, the batter is out. Should, however, the number be greater, the ball is moved along the path B from second to first base. This is the only instance when it is necessary to move the ball along the running path. From the position of short-stop to the home plate there are four spaces and from first base to the home plate there are five spaces. Thus it will be seen that when the indicator arrow points to the short-stop, the ball Will be moved in the spaces between the parallel lines C from the home plate to the short stop position. Should it arrive at such position by the number spun upon the indicator, the batter is out. If the number is greater than that desired, the operation is the same as in the other situations before described and the ball is moved from the shortstop position to first base.

When three men upon the inside team have been put out, the part-y representing the team will place his players on the various diamond and field positions, the outside team now going to bat. lVhen three men upon each of the teams have been put out, one inning has been played. The game proceeds as above described until twentyseven men have been put out, when a full nine inning game of baseball has been played. The team upon which the most men, as represented by the playing pieces, have made a complete circuit of the bases, wins the game. It will be understood that a game of less than nine innings may be played if desired, upon agreement by the parties participating therein.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrated the playing pieces, the form of which is not essential to the requirements of the game, and which may be constructed and ornamented in any desired manner. It will also be understood that instead of providing a double indicator, two separate indicators may be used, and that the game board may be so constructed that the baseball field will be realistically represented, uniformed players being printed thereon opposite the various positions.

My improved game is highly interesting when played, and can be easily understood by persons who are entirely ignorant of the rules of the game of baseball. It may moreover be very cheaply and attractively manufactured, and the movements of the various playing pieces are such that the very highest degree of realism is obtained in the playing of the game.

Having thus described my said invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 2- 1. The hereindescribed game board comprising a board having the diagram of a base ball field thereon, said field consisting of the diamond positions of first base, sec- 0nd base, third base, and the home plate, and the positions of left field, center field, and right field, said diamond positions being connected by parallel lines divided into a plurality of spaces, each of said field positions being connected to the first base and the home plate by parallel lines to provide paths for the movement of playing pieces, said paths being divided into a plurality of blocks or spaces, a short stop position indicated within said diamond, said position also being connected by indicated paths to the first base and the home plate, a pitchers position located in the center of said diamond and connected to each of the diamond positions by indicated paths, the paths connecting said diamond positions being extended beyond the home plate and also divided into a number of spaces substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. T he hereindescribed game board com prising a board having a base ball field represented thereon, said field consisting of the positions of first base, second base, third base, and home plate which comprise the diamond positions, the pitchers position be ing indicated in the center of said diamond, said diamond positions being connected by parallel lines divided by transverse lines into a plurality of spaces, similarly divided lines connecting the pitchers position with each of said diamond positions, field positions upon said board connected with first base and the home plate by parallel lines and likewise divided into a plurality of spaces, playing pieces occupying certain of the field positions and movable over the paths formed by said connecting lines, a short stop position indicated within the diamond and connected to the first base and home plate by parallel lines also divided into a plurality of spaces, the lines connecting said diamond positions extending beyond the home plate, in combination with an indicator provided with two arrows revog; lubly mounted thereon, said mdicator being prouded with concentric circles printed or otherwise designed upon its surface, a plurality of radial lines dividing the space between said circles and between the circles and the arrows, into a plurality of spaces of equal area, the names of certain of the playing positlons being designated between sald circles and adapted to lndlcate the manner in which the ball has been hit, and numbers in said spaces between the circles and the FRANK Gr. REMPE.

lVitnesses G. lV. Ross, MARK S. ARMSTRONG. 

